Neil Jewell, from Bread and Wine in Franschhoek, took first place with his Aubergine and Confit Karoo Lamb with Buchu. Along with the title of 2010 Global Pizza Challenge South Africa Champion, Jewell is set to travel to Melbourne, Australia, to represent Southern Africa, in the next international competition.
In the specialised Peppadew® Pizza category, Tammy Henton, hailing from the Piccolo Mondo, Michelangelo Hotel, walked away with R10 000 for her winning creation of Slow Cooked Duck, Sweet Potato Crisps and Peppadew® Dressing.
Under the auspices of the South Africa Chefs Association (SACA), a panel of accomplished chefs assessed all 70-odd entry recipes for originality, balance, creativity as well as excitement factor. A total of 20 finalists were chosen to move forward to the next GPC round.
Eat and support a charity
Each competing finalist produced four pizzas, two for the judges' table and two for the supporting crowds. Supporters were encourage to voluntarily "pay" for slices by donating to this years' chosen charity, the Uitsig (Animal) Rescue Centre, founded by Denay Saunders of Joostenburgvlakte, Cape Town.
This year, R1 300 was raised through the collection box provided. These funds will be put towards Uitsigs' Mobile Sterilization Unit, soon to be operational in Fisantekraal. This Unit will serve the impoverished communities of Bloekombos and Fisantekraal; and the money will be spent on purchasing much needed vaccinations for the districts' domestic animals.
New international opposition
"This year it was Cape Towns' turn to produce a knockout pizza recipe and it's a far tougher international competition as there are now more countries entering the race," explains Chef Martin Kobald, Honourary President of the SACA. "In this years' event, pizza will also be tossed up in the air in Singapore, Shanghai, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh, Melbourne, Sydney, Dubai, Windhoek and Auckland. Ho Chi Minh took place in December 2009 and Singapore follows straight after South Africa, in April 2010."
This year, the Peppadew® category offered entrants the opportunity to win R10 000, by using its diced sweet piquanté peppers.
The Global Pizza Challenge has again received the support of the 94.7 Rude Awakening Team and Mimmos favoured Italian restaurant franchise; with the creation of the RAW Pizza by DJ personality, Jeremy Mansfield.
The Moroccan-inspired RAW Pizza has been launched and is currently being served in Mimmos outlets across Gauteng, from beginning March 2010, for a period of four weeks. A percentage of proceeds raised will be donated to Food4Africa - a feeding scheme that supports hungry children. Through Food4Africa, each pizza is able to feed a child for a month. Last year saw just over 1 800 children fed through the collective efforts of the initiative and the NGO, which aims to provide balanced meals to hungry children across Africa.
In 2010, the goal is to feed an estimated 3,000 underprivileged for a year. To add to the excitement, this year (2010) saw Chef Martin Kobald compete in a hotly contested cook-off against KFM DJ, Ryan O'Connor, as Kobald took on the responsibility of recreating Mansfield's RAW Pizza in a battle for the best celebrity pizza topping! Sponsors No competition of this nature could flourish without its sponsors.
This years include: Clover Fonterra, Prenox, Unilever FoodSolutions, Nestlé Professional, Hychem, Patleys, Goldcrest, Golden Cloud, Pepsi, Original* Iced Cocktails, Little Leaves (microgreens), Peppadew®, Tiger Brands, Bose, Gearhouse, Mc Brothers, Southern Sun Hotels and Hostex.
For further information, please visit
www.globalpizzachallenge.co.za.